Gun control (for school essay)

[Missingkirby34]

Because regardless of what you think, there is a problem with firearms in the United States. Saying there isn't doesn't change the facts.

http://m.motherjones.com/.politics./2013/01/pro-gun-myths-fact-check

There most definetly is a problem with gun-control I will give you that. But history has shown that merely trying to control a group of people does not work.
     Think of society as a child and the government as our parent. You need to guide the child, deter him from negative actions with negative reinforcement and enforce positive behavior with positive reinforcement.
       If a man goes out and kills someone, more often than not he is sentenced to life (or multiple life sentences) in prison, where we the society pay for them to be taken care of, and to still enjoy the same humane rights that we as law abiding citizens enjoy.
     Personally, I beleive that one who has committed such an atrocity, doesn't deserve humane, rightful treatment. Prison, though rehabilitational, I beleive should serve more for repentance. The criminal should suffer like his victims, and the family's and lives their acts have caused distress. Or else how can one truly learn empathy, and learn the true depth of the consequences of their actions? Perhaps we should focus more on how to eliminate the crime from society or deter it stronger, instead of trying to control the instruments with which crime is committed?

It's statements like these that make me sick.... I'm not saying that murderers shouldn't be punished, but saying they don't deserve humane treatment... It's not right. I think what we need to do is the opposite, we have tried this whole using fear tactic so many times and it's gotten us no where, the government and the media are to blame, not video games, parenting, weapons or anything else, it's this idea of being free that people blow out of proportion. What is it that makes other countries so much less violent? I asked an Arabian kid at my school this question, and many others (he moved here last year) and he said that in other countries America is portrayed as being glorious and almost like heaven, and that they don't show all the bad things that happen, he moved from the Middle East and said he would much rather be in a war zone than here, because he feels like no where is safe, where as atleast in his country,school felt safe to him. Infact just today we had a lockdown drill during our lunch, the way my school was built, the main doors open right into the cafeteria, so if someone came in, they could easily take us out... So what did the school do? Put hundreds of teenagers in a small staircase, and led us to the gym, which has 3 doors to the outside in it. I felt like a sitting duck, lets face it, everyone says they are prepared, but no one truly is

[Dmreiss]

Because regardless of what you think, there is a problem with firearms in the United States. Saying there isn't doesn't change the facts.

http://m.motherjones.com/.politics./2013/01/pro-gun-myths-fact-check

It would have been better if you used a source that was not so left wing.  Their facts are a little skewed to support their beliefs.

If this is really about saving lives, then why don't we drop highway speeds to 40, outlaw cars with engines more than 100 horsepower, and increase the driving age to 25?  That would save more lives than gun control.

[Coffee Vampire]

Because regardless of what you think, there is a problem with firearms in the United States. Saying there isn't doesn't change the facts.

http://m.motherjones.com/.politics./2013/01/pro-gun-myths-fact-check

It would have been better if you used a source that was not so left wing.  Their facts are a little skewed to support their beliefs.

If this is really about saving lives, then why don't we drop highway speeds to 40, outlaw cars with engines more than 100 horsepower, and increase the driving age to 25?  That would save more lives than gun control.

I agree, the source is very biased. It's just a straw man argument, which does not represent both sides. It is a simple "mythbuster".

On another note, I hope they never ban powerful cars...I like driving and with accuracy and torque that no simple car can provide

[Dudecore]

I think taking guns from United States citizens is quite difficult. We've got guns and Jesus in our histories, it is ingrained in us. We're paranoid about the impending government take
over (which has already happened, for anyone no paying attention) and we're skeptical of everyone who isn't like us.

How many people know their neighbors? How many people just try to meet new people or just say hello? Of course we HAVE to tote guns for protection because - pardon my bluntness - what if black people break into our house? That's what we're afraid of, this statistically irrelevant phantom element.

Paranoia is a huge selling point. Turn on television - it's a commercial for ADT Home Security, or some similar company. Are termites invading your home? Call the Terminex guy. Is your kid going to be abducted on the way home? Get him a cell phone. Are you really getting enough vitamins? Take these. Sleeping enough? Eating enough? Happy enough?

They found a way to make us feel like these things are bad, and shouldn't happen to us. So we buy products and forge relationships with brands. Gun violence is paranoia. Many many people are gun owners, and gun violence happens so much less then car accidents. We kill more people with guns in other countries then die here ever. I support the rights of the people to bear arms - because I do not what the rights to my property yielded to a corrupt farse of a government. I'll give up my gun when they give up theirs, and not a moment sooner.

[Missingkirby34]

- pardon my bluntness - what if black people break into our house? That's what we're afraid of, this statistically irrelevant phantom element.

Paranoia is a huge selling point. Turn on television - it's a commercial for ADT Home Security, or some similar company. Are termites invading your home? Call the Terminex guy. Is your kid going to be abducted on the way home? Get him a cell phone. Are you really getting enough vitamins? Take these. Sleeping enough? Eating enough? Happy enough?

And why is the white American afraid of different races? I have a couple theories on that... 1). The fear of being taken over, we did it to the Indians, and someone is bound to do it to us. 2). The media, in "Bowling for columbine" Michael Moore was walking down the street when he saw the cops, he asked them what was going in and of course a "black suspect" had a gun. Minutes later a news reporter was there, he came from filming an infants near drowning, and even admitted, he'd rather film about a black man with a gun than an infants death. 3). Ignorance. Oh no black people will shoot our kids in school :O ***true fact; more school shootings were carried out by white people***No matter what the case may be, every country has mixed races, and not every country has the problems we do, honestly American government plays peacekeeper and thinks we are the best country ever... We need to focus on our own damn problems

[Dudecore]

- pardon my bluntness - what if black people break into our house? That's what we're afraid of, this statistically irrelevant phantom element.

Paranoia is a huge selling point. Turn on television - it's a commercial for ADT Home Security, or some similar company. Are termites invading your home? Call the Terminex guy. Is your kid going to be abducted on the way home? Get him a cell phone. Are you really getting enough vitamins? Take these. Sleeping enough? Eating enough? Happy enough?

And why is the white American afraid of different races? I have a couple theories on that... 1). The fear of being taken over, we did it to the Indians, and someone is bound to do it to us. 2). The media, in "Bowling for columbine" Michael Moore was walking down the street when he saw the cops, he asked them what was going in and of course a "black suspect" had a gun. Minutes later a news reporter was there, he came from filming an infants near drowning, and even admitted, he'd rather film about a black man with a gun than an infants death. 3). Ignorance. Oh no black people will shoot our kids in school :O ***true fact; more school shootings were carried out by white people***No matter what the case may be, every country has mixed races, and not every country has the problems we do, honestly American government plays peacekeeper and thinks we are the best country ever... We need to focus on our own damn problems

Obviously it is just not true that all of the crime is committed by black males between the ages 18-25. I was just pointing out the fear and paranoia caused this line of thinking. The United States has 25% of the entire worlds prison population. 90% of prisoners are black males. White males are exonerated more often or given much lighter sentencing including probation or some form of electronic monitoring.

I don't think there is any doubt that white men are irrationally afraid of black people. And it's no surprise who the police force and legal system is comprised of: white cops, judges and lawyers.

Racism is a hot button issue, and I don't know if our community (comprised of very different age groups and levels of comprehension) are prepared for it. I would just say look at the numbers. White males in the south are more likely to be on welfare, robbing people for drugs (oxy) and breaking and entering. They're also as likely to racist and commit crimes of passion.

[Mikefrompluto]

- pardon my bluntness - what if black people break into our house? That's what we're afraid of, this statistically irrelevant phantom element.

Paranoia is a huge selling point. Turn on television - it's a commercial for ADT Home Security, or some similar company. Are termites invading your home? Call the Terminex guy. Is your kid going to be abducted on the way home? Get him a cell phone. Are you really getting enough vitamins? Take these. Sleeping enough? Eating enough? Happy enough?

And why is the white American afraid of different races? I have a couple theories on that... 1). The fear of being taken over, we did it to the Indians, and someone is bound to do it to us. 2). The media, in "Bowling for columbine" Michael Moore was walking down the street when he saw the cops, he asked them what was going in and of course a "black suspect" had a gun. Minutes later a news reporter was there, he came from filming an infants near drowning, and even admitted, he'd rather film about a black man with a gun than an infants death. 3). Ignorance. Oh no black people will shoot our kids in school :O ***true fact; more school shootings were carried out by white people***No matter what the case may be, every country has mixed races, and not every country has the problems we do, honestly American government plays peacekeeper and thinks we are the best country ever... We need to focus on our own damn problems

White males in the south are more likely to be on welfare, robbing people for drugs (oxy) and breaking and entering. They're also as likely to racist and commit crimes of passion.

Eeehhh I don't know about that. Its pretty even across the board down here. At least where im at it is.

[Dudecore]

Eeehhh I don't know about that. Its pretty even across the board down here. At least where im at it is.

I believe southern states have twice the murder rate of those in the Northeast (per capita). They also have a gigantic problem of unemployment and drug dependency. Education and literacy statistics are at alarmingly low levels.

It does shock me however that our most religious parts of this country also lead the nation in most relevant crime statistics. (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/law_enforcement_courts_prisons/crimes_and_crime_rates.html)

With anything, I am not a racist myself, and my point isn't to show that "look, ALL southerns are bad." It's just that we have a problem that needs to be talked about. Everyone wants to blame blacks for crime, or Mexicans for stealing our jobs, or _____ stealing all the tax money. The southern states in this union have been devouring our welfare with entitlements for decades. For every $1 we make, .60¢ goes to keeping the south afloat. Just something to look at.

Not everyone from the south is like this. I'm
certain a great number of users are from that region. Users of this app by its very nature excludes many murderers and criminals. But if we've got a problem - someone has to talk about it.

[Mikefrompluto]

Eeehhh I don't know about that. Its pretty even across the board down here. At least where im at it is.

I believe southern states have twice the murder rate of those in the Northeast (per capita). They also have a gigantic problem of unemployment and drug dependency. Education and literacy statistics are at alarmingly high levels.

It does shock me however that our most religious parts of this country also lead the nation in most relevant crime statistics. (http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/law_enforcement_courts_prisons/crimes_and_crime_rates.html)

With anything, I am not a racist myself, and my point isn't to show that "look, ALL southerns are bad." It's just that we have a problem that needs to be talked about. Everyone wants to blame blacks for crime, or Mexicans for stealing our jobs, or _____ stealing all the tax money. The southern states in this union have been devouring our welfare with entitlements for decades. For every $1 we make, .60¢ goes to keeping the south afloat. Just something to look at.

I know all that, and im not disputing that. My point is that it isn't a majority of white people, like you claim. Its even across all races. Shreveport, LA (the city I live in) was ranked #69 most dangerous city in the US two years ago, and it hasn't changed since then. 54% of the population is black, 40% is white, and the remainder 6% is spread across Hispanic, Asian, and Native American.

If you look at the stats, its pretty even. Of course, this just applies to my immediate surroundings. Could be like you say in every other city in the south. Im just offering the perspective of what I know to be true from firsthand experience.

[Dudecore]

If you look at the stats, its pretty even. Of course, this just applies to my immediate surroundings. Could be like you say in every other city in the south. Im just offering the perspective of what I know to be true from firsthand experience.

I was in the process of writing something similar. In New York, black males are disproportionately thrown in prison. They're stop and frisked 99% of the time for no reason, with no probable cause, in a very systematically racist process. It must be very difficult and frustrating to young men to feel hated by the system.

Area by area is different, some areas are "upper class" and attract less crime because of housing prices, tax rates and income. Crime tends to pool in certain areas that is lacking one. Economically there are 3 outcomes, and you can tell a lot about that area based on the 3 outcomes.

A) You have a job, and buy your own food.
B) You are given money (welfare) and buy your own food.
C) You steal money to get food.

Anyone who wants to get rid of one of those is a complete moron. We should always push people toward option 'A'. But we should never remove option 'B', because then those individuals would fall into option 'C'. I've been doing a lot of reading on economics and the problem of employment. It is really sad how we treat our fellow humans.

[Piotr]

A) You have a job, and buy your own food.
B) You are given money (welfare) and buy your own food.
C) You steal money to get food.

We should always push people toward option 'A'. But we should never remove option 'B', because then those individuals would fall into option 'C'.

Sure, just do not force anyone to pay for B, that would be prevention by use of force. The right way is to willingly give to charities.

[Dudecore]

That is certainly a possibility, an something we have to objectively strive toward. I've stated my anarchistic beliefs many times over. I don't mean anarchy as in lawlessness, I mean the willing participation of helping the human species flourish and obtain happiness. Not the coercive measures and picking winners and losers based upon the opinions of those in power.

The 3 economic outcomes are strong, and we should always move toward the outcomes described in A. People will always fall into B or C, it is part of our reality, but our goals should all be based around moving toward the "good life". I believe anyone who is not concerned with moving as many people we can toward independence is profoundly wrong about what matters. What else could matter?

[Piotr]

I don't understand the question.

BTW, do you have charity shops like in the UK, in the US?

[Malleo]

I don't understand the question.

BTW, do you have charity shops like in the UK, in the US?

Yes, although some people seem to use them as garbage cans

[Mike_garzone]

I live in CT and we have plenty of charity stores around here; goodwill, charity, etc. When I was younger I did 30 hours of community service at my local goodwill, and 70% of the shoppers there were middle class housewives. Talk about charity going to the wrong place lol